Inclosed switch



B. E. G ETCH ELL Nov. 23 1926.

INcLosED SWITCH Filed April 25. 1920 @fg-Z PatentedV Nov. 23, 1926.

` UNI-TED STATES lPA;'ifa-hifii oFFicE. l

4BIEINJAJIYIIISI' E. GETCHELL, OF PLAINVILLE, CONNECTICUT, ASSIG-NOR T0 THE TRIUM- BULL ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OFPLAINVILLE,' CONNECTICUT, A.

CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

. INCLOSED SWITCH.

Application led April 26,

My inventionl relates particularly to improvements in constructions .of the character ot' the Sutherland Patent- #1 ,288,740, and the Knudsen Patent #1,310,163, which are commonly known as safety switches.

It is desirable to normally lock the Switch 'in its-open circuit position when the cover` is open so as to prevent accidents. It is also t desirable to lock the cover .closed-When the switch is in vthe on or closed circuit position.l On the other hand, it is desirable to permit the cover to be opened by inspectors or other authorized individuals wit-hout opening the circuit.

It is my main object in a construction f this character to provide means for permitting the opening of the cover whilethe circuit Ais closed.A I accomplish thi-s by the use of a system of interlocking parts, one of which is adapted/to be retracted bymeans of a key so as to release the 'cover without affecting .the switch. I have so constructed the parts as to insure the return of the parts to their normal condition when the key is 25.withdrawn lso as to avoid leaving the locking mechanism inoperative, 4 Fig. 1 is a front View of a construction lembodying the improvements of my invention, the operating handle being shown in the closed circuit -or on position.

Fig. 2 is a front view showing the cover of thefreceptacle open and the switch also open.

' Fig. 3 is a-fragmentary side view and partialA section f showing the interlocking or safety catch mechanism with the cover part-4 ly' opened andtlv handle in the position it would occupy. wh n the circuit is open, the key as shown in the cover.

Fig.4is a similar view but with the handle in the on position and the cover closed` and omitting the ke'y.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view in the plane of the line 5 5 of Fig. 4 on a larger scale 45 showingthe safety mechanism.

The receptacle or box consists of .a body 6 with a hinged cover 7. The switch mechanism is preferably carried by an insulating base 8 mounted within the receptacle. The

5U switch mechanism may be ot' any suitable type. In thisy case, I haveshown an ordinary double bladed knife vswitch with two blades 9-9, each of which has a hinge post or support-10 and` a stationary contact 11. The

1920. Serial No. 376,801.

two blades are 'connected by an Iinsulating cross piece 12 and adapted -to be, operated by an external handle l3which is hinged or pivoted in the body of the box and conthe switch mechanism is in the oli' or open circuit position as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

IThis prevents the operation of the switch when the parts are in this position.

The member 15 also has an inclinedl abutment 2O adapted to be engaged by the stop pin or bolt 21l carried by the cover when the cover is closed so as to tilt the member ing of the cover when the switch is in the,

on or closed circuit position of Fig. 4.

This stop pin 21 is slidably mounted in l a support 23 secured to the inside. of the cover. A sprin 24 normally presses the stop pin'outwai ly so that it engages the inside 'of the flange 7 of the cover. 'The cover is providedl with a slot 25 for a keyv` 26 and the stop pin 21 is provided vwith a Y groove 27 adapted to receive the blade of the key 26 so that upon rotationof the key the stop pin 21 may be retracted. The parts are so constructed in proportion that the ,key cannot be Withdrawn without yfirst allowing the stop pin 21-to be projected by the sprln 24.

When 1t isf'desired to open thefcover'for the purpose of inspection of the switch when the circuit is closed, it is simply necessary to insert the key in the opening 25 and retract'the stop pin 21 from the hokf22.

The cover may then be opened andthe switch may be afterwardthrown to the oli position if desired. :Upon the 'Withdrawal of the key, the stop pin 21 will automatically be protruded into position to engage the inclined abutment 20 when thecover is.

closed so as to kautomatically retract the member 15 and' permit the'switch'to bev closed. In case it is attempted to close the cover with the switch on and the key out, the stop pin 21 will engage the outer face of thehook 22 so that .the cover cannot be closed without either .retracting the stop pin 21 or throwing the switch to the oil po sition. As an additional precaution the box may be provided with lugs such as 28 and 29 which are adapted to be secured together by a padlock or seal. Other modifications or additions will occur to those familiar with this art.

I claim:

1. In an inclosedswitch, a switch casing, a movable cover therefor having a key hole, a flange on said cover, a latch member carried by said casing, a bolt carried by said cover and normal y pressing against said ange, a switch element in said casing, a handle for operating said switch, and means for causing 'said latch vmember and bolt to be held in engagement to lock the cover closed when the switch is in closed'fcircuitposition, said bolt being movableby means of a key inserted through the hole in the cover to cause a disengagement of said bolt and latch member to permit the cover to be opened .when the switch is in closed circuit position.

2. In an electric switch construction, the combination of a box having a hinged cover with a ange overlapping an edge of the box, a switch mounted 1n a box, interlocking mechanism between the switch and the cover consisting of a latch ymember carried by the box adjacent one side thereof, and a springpressed bolt mounted within said cover, said cover flange normally constituting an abutment for said bolt.

8. In an electric switch construction, the

`combination of a box having a hinged cover with a flange overlapping an edge of the box, a switch mounted ina box, lnterlocking mechanism'between the switch and the cover consisting of a latch member carried by 'the box adjacent one side thereof, and a bolt. supported entirely within said cover and adapted 'to interlock with said latch, said cover flange serving as a stop for said bolt and said cover having a slot adjacent said bolt *for admitting'a key to operate said boit. i BENJAMIN E. enTonarm..l 

